Release mechanism for vending machines



y 1967 R. E. GRINDINGER ETAL 3,322,303

RELEASE MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 22,1966 mue/ M M4405 y 1967 R. E. GRINDINGER ETAL. 3,322,303

RELEASE MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed July 22, 1966 2Sheets-Sheet r /ZL6} l 6 I I M .1 =7 32a i1 22 ma fiama'e/ M Maw ORNEY5line 5 of FIG. 3

United States Patent ()filice This invention relates generally tovending machines and deals more particularly with means for obtainingcontrolled release of individual cans stored in tiers in a vendingmachine. While the embodiment hereinafter shown and described isparticularly adaptable to the vending of canned goods, the invention isapplicable as well to other sorts of packaged products which can bedelivered by gravity from a storage section or magazine to a dischargearea.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a gate mechanismfor intermittent controlled release of the successive endmost cans in atier of cans through the action of an electromagnet or other actuatingmechanism which is highly effective gate mechanism in which a gate ofsubstantial height relative to the can diameter is obtained whilerequiring only a very short displacement stroke of the armature of anelectromagnet.

Another object of the invention is to provide an intermittently operatedgate mechanism in which means are provided for intercepting and holdingthe tier of cans or other objects while the endmost can is beingreleased and which permits, upon return of the gate, another can to moveinto position for release.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gate mechanism inwhich the gate members are locked in the can restraining condition andremain so locked until the actuating mechanism is operated to dispense acan. For this purpose the gate mechanism includes a locking bar which ismoved from the gate locking position responsive to the operation of theactuating mechanism and which is returned to the locking position whenthe gate mechanism resumes the normal can intercepting condition.

Other objects of the invention together with the features of noveltyappurtenant thereto will appear in the course, of the followingdescription.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification andare to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like referencenumerals indicate like parts in the various views;

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken generally on a vertical plane throughthe intermediate portion of a vending machine having cans stored in azig-zag tier and showing the can release mechanism in side elevation.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line2-Z of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the gate mechanism per seshowing its relationship to the lower end of the bottom slant shelf ofthe tier or magazine;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the gate mechanismin the can release position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along in the direction ofthe arrows;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view taken generally from the left-hand side ofFIG. 3 with parts broken away for the purposes of illustration;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view taken generally from 3,322,3d3Patented l day Ell, I96? the left-hand side of FIG. 4, parts again beingbroken away for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view looking down upon the device as viewed in FIG.3;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 99of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line It'll-10 of FIG. 8 in thedirection of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral ltl indicates generally theinsulated side walls of a typical vending machine cabinet. Located inthe interior of the machine is a series of slant shelves 11 whichcooperate to form a zig-zag passageway on which cans 12 are supported inseries. The bottom shelf of the tier is indicated generally at 13. Thisshelf terminates at its outer end closely adjacent a chute 14 whichpasses through a discharge opening 15 in the cabinet wall at the lowerend of which is a can receiving trough 16. It will be understood thatthe showing of the basic vending machine is largely schematic and thatother components may be used without atiecting the can release mechanismnow to be described.

Located beneath the base shelf 11.? is a generally Z- shaped plate 17.The rearward end flange 17a of plate 17 is secured to a depending flange18 supported from the underside of the plate 13, the connection being bymeans of a bolt or pin 19. The upturned outer or front flange 17!) ofmember 17 is secured by bolts 19 to angle members 2i! (see FIG. 5) whichhave depending legs and are secured to the plate 13 by welding orotherwise.

Located substantially centrally and symmetrically on the front flange17b are a pair of pivotal gate members 21. Each gate member is pivotedto the flange 17b by a bolt 22. These gate members have distal endportions which, when in the can restraining position, project well abovethe plane of the top of the bottom shelf 13.

Each gate member 21 also has a lower distal end portion which carries arearwardly extending pin 23, the pin being located on the opposite sideof the pivot axis from the main upwardly extending portion of the gatemember. It will be noted that the pins 23 are also inset toward oneanother with respect to their respective pivot axes. These pins areslidably captured in a space between an upper camming member 24 andlower camming member 25, both of which are secured centrally to ahorizontal member 26 (see FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 10) extending transverselyabove plate 117. The member 2.6 bridges between and is secured to theoutwardly bent upper ends of the spaced upstanding legs 27 of a U-shapedmember 23 which extends downwardly below plate 317 at the forward endthereof. The legs 2'7 of U-shaped member 23 s1idably extend through anopening 29 in plate 17 (see FIG. 9). The cross member 26 has formedintegral therewith a pair of spaced rearwardly extending upwardlyprojecting V-shaped elements 30, more about which will be said later.

Located between legs 2'7 of U-shaped member 28 is an electromagnetassembly having the coil assembly 31, which is supported from theunderside of plate 17, and a vertically reciprocable armature 32 whichincludes a stem 32:: within the core and a T-head 312]) at the lowerdescription, provides a locking bar for controlling the operation of thegate members 21. The locking bar is ertured to receive the bolt tomaintain the locking bar at the desired spacing from the armature.

The unit is so designed that the upstanding, or can intercepting,position for the gate member coincides with the deenergized conditionfor the electromagnet. In this condition, the armature 32 is in itslowermost position and the same is true of the member 23. The lowerlimit position for the cross bar 28 is determined by engagement of theoutturned flanges at the upper end of legs 27 with the top surface ofplate 17 adjacent the ends of the opening 29 earlier described. The bar26 is secured to the flanges on the upper ends of the legs by welding orany other suitable fastening medium.

The lower limit position for the armature is determined by engagement ofthe lower surface of head 32b with the bight portion of U-shap'ed member28.

The upper end of the locking bar 34 is formed with a pair ofsymmetrically arranged incut notches 34a which cooperate to define aneck and a T-like upper head portion 35b on the upper end of the lockingbar. As can be seen best in FIG. 6, when the armature 32 is in itslowermost position, the T-head 35b is interposed between the pins on thegate members 21. Accordingly, it is not possible for the gate members 21to pivot away from one another. Therefore, the gate members are lockedin the raised position of FIG. 6 until such time as the locking bar 34is moved upwardly far enough to align the notches 34-51 with the pins.

As can be again best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, the bolt 33 has a portionunderlying the bight of the U-shaped member 28 at the center thereof.The bolt is spaced somewhat below a central indented portion 28a in thebight. Accordingly, upon energization of the solenoid, the initialupward displacement of the armature is not accompanied by upwarddisplacement of the U-shaped member 28. Instead, the armature will risewith an accompanying upward movement of the bolt until such time as thebolt strikes the under side of the indentation 28a. During this timeinterval, the locking bar is also displaced upwardly to bring thenotches 34a into registry with the pins 23 on the gate members.Continued upward displacement then results in upward movement of theU-shaped member 28 and the cross member 26 connected to the upper endsof its arms. Since the members 24, 25 which lie above and below pins 23are connected with the cross member 26 they will also rise and willoperate to cam the pins 23 inwardly and upwardly, thus to pivot theupper gate portions outwardly and downwardly. FIG. shows the armature atthe intermediate point when the locking bar has been raised just enoughto bring the bolt 33 into engagement with the bight of the U-shapedmember 28, thereby to apply an upward force thereon.

The armature of the electromagnet and the associated gate actuatingassembly comprising the cross member 26 and U-shaped member 28 arebiased toward the down position by means of a leaf spring 36 which isfixed at its rearward end by screws 37 to the top side of plate 17 andwhich has its forward free end engaging the top of the offset rearportion of camming member 25 secured to the top of the cross member 26.

The electric current is supplied to the elect-romagnet through leads =38and a microswitch 39 which is connected in series with theelectromagnet. The switch has an upwardly biased plunger 3% which iscontrolled by a feeler arm 4d extending forwardly from the switch andhaving an upturned end or tip 4% which bears against the underside ofcross member 26, access being achieved through an opening 41 formed inthe member 17 (see FIG. 9). When the gate members 21 are up and themember 26 thus in its corresponding down position, the feeler 40 isdepressed, thus depressing plunger 3911. In this condition, the circuitto the solenoid is closed. When the electromagnet is energized, as isusually done through deposit of a coin in a proper coin mechanism, thecross member 26 will be displaced upwardly as earlier described, thuspermitting arm 40 to rise and freeing the plunger 3% so as to change thecondition of the microswitch to off. When the switch is moved to the offcondition, the electromagnet is deenergized and the spring 36 returnsthe arma- 4 ture and the U-shaped member 28 to the lowered position orcondition.

As is best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the shelf 13 is provided with arectangular opening 38 having a width somewhat less than the length ofthe can to be moved thereover and of suflicient length to accommodatethe inverted V-shaped members 31 which are carried by the cross member26. When the armature of the electromagnet is in its lowermost position,the tips of the elements 31 are sufliciently below the center of gravityof the cans as to permit the cans to roll thereover by gravity. When theelectromagnet is energized these elements 3d are raised so that theyproject well above the level of the shelf 13. The elements 30 are solocated that they lie between the can which is engaged by the gate 21and the next succeeding can. Accordingly, upon energization of thesolenoid, elements 3!) are brought upwardly and into engagement with thesucceeding can so as to engage the succeeding can.

Briefly summarizing the operation of the invention, which has alreadybeen explained in large part in connection with the description that haspreceded, the normal condition for the electromagnet is a deenergizedcondition. This is the condition which corresponds to the positions ofthe parts shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6. The endrnost can 12 isrestrained from departure from shelf 13 by the upstanding portions ofthe gate members 21. Moreover, these gate portions cannot be separatedby reaching in through the chute 1-5 since the locking bar 34 has thehead portion 3417 which is interposed between the pins 23 at the lowerends of the gate members.

Upon energiZat-ion of the solenoid, the armature is drawn upwardly,carrying with it, during the initial increment of displacement, thelocking bar 34. The bar is moved upwardly sufficiently to disengage theT-head 34b of the locking bar from between the pins 23. Thereafter, theU-shaped member 28 is engaged by bolt 33 and it, too, is impelledupwardly. The members 24, 25 operate to cam the pins 23 inwardly,thereby pivoting the upper portions of the gate members 21 outwardly anddownwardly, whereby to smoothly release the endrnost can and permit itto roll on into the chute 14 and into the discharge trough 16. A secondcan is prevented from rolling down the chute by the upward movement ofthe V- shaped members 34 into a position to intercept the next can.

When the armature reaches the uppermost limit of travel, the microswitch39 opens the circuit to the solenoid, thus deenergizing the solenoid andpermitting the leaf spring 36 to return the armature and its associatedcomponents to the down position. The camming members 24, 25, acting onpins 23, again pivot the gates back toward the raised position. As theV-shaped members 30 move back to the down position, the next can ispermitted to roll into the space vacated by the preceding can where itis intercepted and restrained by the gate members 21. When the armaturereaches the full down position, the head 34b of the locking bar is againinterposed between the pins and the unit is ready for another operationcycle.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a can vending machine, the combination of a slant shelf forsupporting a series of cans and having a lower discharge end over whichcans can roll by gravity,

a pair of pivotal gate members positioned at said discharge end of saidshelf with first distal portions normally extending above the level ofthe shelf to intercept a first can, the pivot axes for said gate memberslocated below said discharge end,

operating means operable intermittently to pivotally displace said gatemembers in opposed directions whereby to move said first distal portionsfrom the path of said can to a can release position and back to the canintercept position,

stop means connected with said operating means and operable to engageand hold the can behind said first can when said gate members arepivoted to said release position and to disengage therefrom upon returnof said gate members to the can intercept position.

2. The combination as in claim 1, including a displaceable lockingmember operatively associated with said gate members and normallylocking same in said can intercept position and against said pivotaldisplacement, and

means interconnecting said locking member with said operating means andoperable to effect displacement of said locking member from the normallocking condition to an unlocking condition prior to said pivotaldisplacement of said gate members.

3. The combination as in claim 2,

said gate members having second distal end portions,

said locking member including a portion normally disposed between saidsecond distal portions and preventing said pivotal displacement of saidgate members.

4. The combination as in claim 1,, said operating means comprising anelectromagnet having a reciprocable armature, camming members connectedto and reciprocable with said armature, and cam follower membersconnected respectively with said gate members and displaced by saidcamming members in directions to pivot said gate members in response toreciprocation of said armature.

5. The combination as in claim 4,

a displaceable locking member connected with said armature and operablyassociated with said gate members, said locking member normallypositioned to prevent said pivotal displacement of said gate membersfrom said can intercept position but operable upon initial displacementof said armature to release said gate members for pivotal displacement,and

means providing a lost motion connection between said camming membersand armature whereby the camming members are not operatively displaceduntil said gate members have been released for pivota1 displacement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 868,632 10/1907 Almstrom et al.22l-30l X 1,081,379 12/1913 Gsell 221-298 2,433,619 12/1947 Monroe221-298 X 2,940,637 6/1960 Hayward 221293 X 2,993,623 7/1961 Bendot221-298 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A CAN VENDING MACHINE, THE COMBINATION OF A SLANT SHELF FORSUPPORTING A SERIES OF CANS AND HAVING A LOWER DISCHARGE END OVER WHICHCANS CAN ROLL BY GRAVITY, A PAIR OF PIVOTAL GATE MEMBERS POSITIONED ATSAID DISCHARGE END OF SAID SHELF WITH FIRST DISTAL PORTIONS NORMALLYEXTENDING ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE SHELF TO INTERCEPT A FIRST CAN, THEPIVOT AXES FOR SAID GATE MEMBERS LOCATED BELOW SAID DISCHARGE END,OPERATING MEANS OPERABLE INTERMITTENTLY TO PIVOTALLY DISPLACE SAID GATEMEMBERS IN OPPOSED DIRECTIONS WHEREBY TO MOVE SAID FIRST DISTAL PORTIONSFROM THE PATH OF SAID CAN RELEASE POSITION AND BACK TO THE CAN INTERCEPTPOSITION, STOP MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID OPERATING MEANS AND OPERABLE TOENGAGE AND HOLD THE CAN BEHIND SAID FIRST CAN WHEN SAID GATE MEMBERS AREPIVOTED TO SAID RELEASE POSITION AND TO DISENGAGE THEREFROM UPON RETURNOF SAID GATE MEMBERS TO THE CAN INTERCEPT POSITION.